Now I Rise
The highly anticipated, mind-blowing sequel to Kiersten White’s New York Times bestseller, AND I DARKEN — the series that reads like HBO’s Game of Thrones... if it were set in the Ottoman Empire. Fans of Victoria Aveyard’s THE RED QUEEN and Sabaa Tahir’s A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT won’t want to miss this riveting and gorgeously written novel — the second in the trilogy.
Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her.
What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople — and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence — but for the first time in his life, he rejects her unexpected plea for help. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself — but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?
As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won... and souls will be lost.
Praise for And I Darken
“A dark jewel of a story, one that gleams with fierce, cunning characters—absolutely riveting.” — Alexandra Bracken, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Passenger
“A dark, gritty, and seriously badass epic that will have you dying for more... required reading for every feminist fantasy fan.” — BuzzFeed
“Evocative... this book takes no prisoners.” — NPR
Kiersten White
Kiersten White’s storytelling is a blend of fierce imagination, sharp wit, and deep emotional resonance. Known for her ability to spin complex tales of fantasy, horror, and the supernatural, White has captured the hearts of readers with her distinctly bold, often dark narratives. Her stories are where the boundary between the ordinary and the extraordinary blurs, where readers are invited to dive into worlds filled with magic, monsters, and unforgettable heroines.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Kiersten grew up with a passion for both reading and writing, though she was the kind of person who loved to daydream about new worlds before ever setting them down on paper. From an early age, she found herself enchanted by stories that pushed the limits of what was possible—stories that felt real, even when they were anything but. That love of the fantastical is something that continues to infuse her books, drawing from her own love of adventurous narratives and her curiosity about what lies beneath the surface of reality.
The Conqueror's Trilogy
The Conqueror's Trilogy consists of three books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
